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It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine

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Beggar's Opera Interview

Interview:

Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. I have been a huge fan of your band for a very long time. I would like to know about the beginning of the band. Do you perhaps remember your first session with the band?

Beggars Opera evolved from the school band The System. Our first session was when we auditioned drummers and found Raymond Wilson.

Were you in any other bands before forming Beggar's Opera?

Virginia Scott and Ricky Gardiner met in the Vostoks in the early 60's. Ricky Gardiner went on to play in the King Bees and The System. ( Martin Griffiths and Marshall Erskine were also in the System).

Why the name Beggar's Opera?

Beggars Opera was a name chosen randomly from a dictionary.

In 1970 you released your first LP called Act One. What are your strongest memories from the recording sessions and the production of the LP? Can you also tell me about the songwriting? I would also like to know about the cover artwork...

The artwork for Beggars Opera Act One was by the famous artist /photographer Marcus Keef, who invented many Vertigo album covers. Act One album was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios and engineered by Martin Birch. It was a recording of part of our live act at the time. We had very little time in the studio to record this. The songwriting was done by committee.

Waters of Change is your second LP released in 1971. I think its even better than your debut, this one features melotron, which I really like. What can you tell me about this LP?

Waters if Change was musically more interesting. The mellotron opened out the sound . Our stage presence, with the 2 keyboard stations, was more impressive. Time Machine was the first piece to be initiated from the mellotron.

Pathfinder is your third album. Again I have to say it's an excellent LP. It was released in 1972. Then you released Get Your Dog Off Me in 1973, which is a bit different in my opinion. For the next one called Sagittary you went to Germany to record it. What can you tell me about this releases. I would like to hear a story how did you record it etc.

Pathfinder was also interesting musically, as two musical teams emerged. 1/ Virginia Scott/ Ricky Gardiner original songs, words and guitar harmony compositions, and 2/ Alan Park / Martin Griffiths orchestral arrangements and poetry. There was always plenty of material to choose from. Martin Griffiths then left the band. Pete Scott ( ex Savoy Brown) took over on vocals, quickly followed by Linnie Paterson ( ex Writing on the Wall ). Basically Beggars Opera adjusted to their different singing styles. But in Get Your Dog Off Me though, Alan Park's arrangement of Classical Gas and Ricky Gardiner 's Requiem are pureBeggars Opera classics. This album was recorded at Phonogram Studios London. The engineer was Roger Wake.

Ricky Gardiner: Phonogram studios Get Your Dog Off Me sessions.

In the end though our 4 album deal with Vertigo records was complete and Beggars Opera seemed to drift apart. Virginia Scott and Ricky Gardiner then worked on the Diana Demon concept project with a view to more live work. Meanwhile, Jupiter Records Germany / British Lion Music asked Ricky Gardiner to produce to 2 Beggars Opera albums. Ricky Gardiner asked Pete Scott/ Vocals and Virginia Scott/ Keys and drummers Mike Travis (ex Gilgamesh) and the legendary Clem Cattini respectively for the Sagittary and Beggars Can't be Choosers sessions. These two albums were recorded at TW Studios Fulham Palace Rd, London and engineered by Alan Winstanley/produced by Ricky Gardiner. The songs for Sagittary were written by the Virginia Scott/ Colin McFarlane collaboration (Diana Demon Show project )

and Ricky Gardiner wrote the songs for Beggars Can't be Choosers. The final track Death on Beggars Can't be Choosers is very expressive of the feeling at the time. I think we really sensed we were at the end of one phase in our musical lives and at the beginning of another.

This was very quickly to prove to be true as Ricky Gardiner was soon to be playing and recording David Bowie and Iggy Pop!

How was touring going for you in that period? I would like to hear an interesting story from some shows you played...

INCOMPLETE Beggars Opera gig list so far 8/01/081969 December 03

Glasgow, Burns Howff ( First Gig )UK

1969 December 18 Glasgow, Clarkston Halls UK

1970 June 06 ? Glasgow, Hampden Park UK

1970 ? Glasgow, Electric Garden UK

1970 August ? Glasgow, Clydebank Town Hall UK

1971 January 20 Glasgow, Apollo (Green's Playhouse) UK

1971 March 14 London, Lyceum UK

1971 March 16 Edinburgh, Empire UK

1971 March 17 Dundee, Caird Hall UK

1971 March 18 Newcastle, City Hall UK

1971 March 19 Glasgow, Apollo (Green's Playhouse) UK

1971 ? Falkirk, Banknock Community Centre UK

1971 May 07 London, Temple Club UK

1971 May 25 Fraserburgh UK

1971 May 27 Dumfries, Oughtens UK

1971 May 28 Kirkcaldy UK

1971 May 29 Hartlepool, Football Ground UK

1971 June 02 Bellshill, YMCA UK

1971 June 03 Paisley, Watermill UK

1971 June 04 Edinburgh, Herriot Watt UK

1971 June 05 Glasgow, Flamingo UK

1971 June 06 down to London (gig ?) UK

1971 June 09 Record Command Studios London UK

1971 June 10 Record Command Studios London UK

1971 June 11 Ayr, Bobby Jones Ballroom UK

1971 June 12 Glasgow, Picasso UK

1971 June 13 Dunfermline, Kinema UK

1971 June 17 The Tartan Ball Glasgow, Albert Ballroom UK

1971 June 18 North Tour (gig ?) UK

1971 June 19 North Tour (gig ?) UK

1971 June 23 Troon, Concert Hall UK

1971 June 24 Glasgow, MVH UK

1971 June 25 Sanquar, Town Hall UK

1971 June 26 Aberdeen UK

1971 June 28 Redhurst UK

1971 July 02 York, Museum Rooms UK

1971 July 03 Hull, Brickhouse UK

1971 July 04 travel London UK

1971 July 05 Ian's Birthday ! London UK

1971 July 07 London, Speakeasy UK

1971 July 08 York, Hypnotique UK

1971 July 09 London, Temple Club UK

1971 July 10 Liverpool, Cavern UK

1971 July 11 Fulham, Greyhound UK

1971 July 12 Leicester, El Rondo UK

1971 August 07 Rimini, L'Altro Mondo Italy

1971 August 09 Live performance in German TV

Beat Club (Beat Club no. 70) Bremen Germany

1971 August 13 Rimini, YeYe Club Italy

1971 August 15 Rimini, YeYe Club Italy

1971 August 17 Rimini, YeYe Club Italy

1971 September 04 1st British Rock Meeting Speyer,

Rheinhalbinsel Germany

1971 September 05 so called "The Sensational British

Superstar Festival" Vienna, Stadthalle

NOT PLAYING Austria

1971 September 19 London, Marquee Club UK

1971 November ? Linz Austria

1971 Dec. 02 - 04 BO Supporting Leon Russell

London, Rainbow UK

1971 December 09 London, Marquee Club UK

1971 December 17 London, Temple Club UK

1971 December 20 Hayes, Grapes Hotel UK

1972 January 31 Hamburg, Musikhalle grosser Saal

CANCELLED Germany

1972 February 01 Ayr, Bobby Jones Ballroom UK

1972 February 02 Glasgow, Terminal

Kew, Boathouse (2 gigs ???) UK

1972 February 03 London, Marquee Club UK

1972 February 04 Leicester, El Rondo UK

1972 February 08 Cleethorpes, Winter Gardens UK

1972 February 09 Liverpool, Mardi Gras UK

1972 February 12 Watford, Tech College UK

1972 February 15 Leytonstone, Chez Club UK

1972 February 17 London, Marquee Club UK

1972 February 18 Middlesex, College UK

1972 February 19 Sunderland, Top Rank UK

1972 February 20 Aberdeen, University UK

1972 February 21 Nairn, Ballerina UK

1972 February 22 Inverness, Rink UK

1972 February 27 Middlesbrough, Excel Bowl UK

1972 February 28 Chester, Quaintways UK

1972 March 05 Fulham, Greyhound UK

1972 March 11 Plymouth, Van Dykes UK

1972 ? Southampton UK

1972 April 18 Mannheim Germany

1972 May 02 Roma, Piper Club Italy

1972 May 05 Cardano Al Campo; Nautilus Club Italy

1972 May 20 2nd British Rock Meeting

Germersheim, Insel Grün Germany

1972 June ? Porto (Oporto) Portugal

1972 August 04 Midnight Court Session London,

Kings Cross Cinema UK

1972 August 13 Fulham, Greyhound UK

1972 August (from 16 ?) Switzerland

1972 September 23 The Great Western Express

Grangemouth, Stadium UK

1972 September 29 Grangemouth Rock Festival

Grangemouth, Stadium UK

1972 October 12 Beggars Opera and Guests

Crailsheim, Jahnhalle Germany

1972 October 19 Cardano Al Campo, Nautilus Club Italy

1972 October 27 Sunderland, Top Rank UK

1972 October 30 Chester, Quaintways UK

1972 October 31 Edinburgh, Clouds UK

1972 November 15 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 January 27 Ipswich, Baths Hall UK

1973 January 29 Lanchester Acts Festival UK

1973 January 31 Sheffield, University UK

1973 February 01 London, City University UK

1973 February 02 Aberystwyth, University UK

1973 February 03 Bristol, Poly UK

1973 February 07 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 February 08 High Wycombe, Chiltern Rooms UK

1973 February 09 North Gloucester, Poly UK

1973 February 10 Shoreditch, College UK

1973 February 12 Chester, Quaintways UK

1973 February 14 Manchester, University UK

1973 February 15 East Kilbride, Olympia UK

1973 February 16 Dundee, University UK

1973 February 17 Durham, University UK

1973 February 18 Dunfermline, Kinema UK

1973 February 19 Inverness, Rose St. Hall UK

1973 February 22 Motherwell, Civic Centre UK

1973 February 23 Stirling, University UK

1973 February 24 Glasgow, Queen Margaret Union UK

1973 February 28 Lancaster, University UK

1973 March 01 Leeds, Poly UK

1973 March 02 Sunderland, Poly UK

1973 March 03 Manchester, Stoneground UK

1973 March 04 Barnsley, Civic Centre UK

1973 April 26 Schweinfurt, Stadtparksaal Germany

1973 May 09 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 May 16 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 ? Zaragozza Spain

1973 September 8 Scheessel (Hurricane-Festival) Germany

1973 September 9 Scheessel (Hurricane-Festival) Germany

1973 September 27 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 November 02 London, Marquee Club UK

1973 November 26 London, Rainbow Restaurant,

Biba's New York Christmas Ball UK

1973 November 27 London, Rainbow Restaurant,

Biba's New York Christmas Ball UK

1974 ? London, Greyhound UK

1975 ? SWR (Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk) Germany

This list does not include details of the numerous German tours. From 1969/1974 Beggars Opera toured incessantly (UK and Europe see above) . Perhaps one of the many exciting an successful gigs was the Great British Rock Meeting at Speyer in Germany in 1971.

A wonderful show, amazing bands and HUGE crowds. There were 120,000 people there.

But backstage ? … very few facilities !

Festivals in those days were all about Love and Peace !

Well in the 80's you released only Life Line album. What happened next?

Gordon Sellar , Alan Park and Linnie Paterson and others worked on Lifeline for Vertigo Germany.

Next? Well -Gordon Sellar worked for Alex Harvey Band.

Alan Park worked as musical director to Cliff Richards.

In 1996 The Final Curtain album was released. After that you released couple of albums. Close to My Heart in 2007, Touching the Edge in 2008, All Tomorrows Thinking in 2010. Suddenly Ahead Ahead in 2010 and also Lose a Life. What can you tell me about your latest albums?

The Final Curtain CD is not a new Beggars Opera album. The tracks are modified from out-takes of the previous Lifeline sessions. The NEW Beggars Opera albums Close to My Heart, Touching the Edge, Suddenly Ahead Ahead and All Tomorrows Thinking are NEW with all new material from the Virginia Scott / Ricky Gardiner team. Tom Gardiner plays drums on all these releases. The above are all released by RGS and now we are very happy that Close to My Heart and Lose a Life are now also available from Repertoire Records Germany.

Lose a Life the nano opera composed solely by Virginia Scott, is the story of an Electrosensitive, based on Ricky Gardiner's experience of this condition.

If you want to read more about this album it is best to go to Chris Welch's page on the Repertoire Records

A Beggars Opera album 'Promise in Motion' will be released later this year by RGS.

I would like to hear a few words about side project called Kumara.

Kumara was a joining of more experimental energies, music built from keyboard sound-washes. This is experimental work as in Beggars Opera alt. Ricky Gardiner The Flood where here the sound-washes are from the guitar/ tape.

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Psychedelic Folk issue available

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